Jul 31, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Triplets guard Joe Johnson (1) shoots under the basket against Enemies during week four of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Aric Becker-USA TODAY Sports

• BIG3 season five kicks off this weekend with a 6-game slate
• Trilogy begin defense of their crown against 2019 champs Triplets
• See below for odds on all games and our betting predictions

The NBA Finals have just wrapped and the NHL is coming to a close. With the NFL still a ways away from any meaningful action, aside from baseball, we’re into the “other” sports on the summer schedule.

Cue up the BIG3, entering its fifth season, which begins this weekend with all 12 teams in action.

Ice Cube’s alternate basketball creation is dotted with ex-NBA players from yesteryear.

Played in a halfcourt set to 50, the game is similar to the FIBA 3×3 game, with a few variations — most notably the marked spots on the court for drilling 4-point shots.

Schedule makers opened things up with a doozy on opening weekend, with the past two champions going head-to-head: Trilogy vs Triplets.

BIG3 Week 1 Odds

Odds as of June 17th at DraftKings.

That matchup also produced the largest point spread of opening weekend, with Trilogy, the defending champion and only two-time title winner in league history pegged as 5.5-point favorites.

The shortest line is between the Killer 3’s and the Ball Hogs, with the ‘Hogs a 1.5-point underdogs, a team that features last year’s 2nd-leading scorer Leandro Barbosa.

Four teams are -150 favorites or longer on the moneyline, with 3’s Company (-150) over Bivouac, Tri-State (-155) over Power, Aliens a -160 favorite over Enemies, and the Triplets looking at -200 over Trilogy.

In case you’re wondering, six of the 12 teams have a some sort of variation of the number three in their team name.

Triplets vs Trilogy Picks

The best player in the short history of the league is 6-time NBA all-star Joe Johnson. Iso Joe was the BIG3 leading scorer last year, made the most field goals, tied for first in three-point makes, and was also second in assists and steals.

In two seasons (2020 was wiped out due to COVID), he’s picked up MVP twice and a title in 2019.

Death. Taxes. @TheJoeJohnson7 Game-Winner.

It never gets any less amazing. pic.twitter.com/iVpoJ9948r

— BIG3 (@thebig3) July 24, 2021

He’s flanked by the Pargo brothers, Jeremy and Jannero. Jannero was tied for second in three-point makes on the year, while Jeremy topped all shooters with a league-best five hits from 4-point range. Big man Ryan Hollins, who’s been on the ESPN circuit more than hooping, was just drafted to add some interior heft to Trilogy.

The Triplets will likely be without Jarrett Jack, who found his way onto an NBA bench as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. They’ve still got pieces though, and landed athletic big Earl Clark, who should help absorb the loss.

Trilogy’s Isaiah Briscoe had a BLAZING BIG3 debut. Dropping 28 of his team’s 50 points, and securing the Week 1 win! 👁 pic.twitter.com/4XVcJ7iX2l

— BIG3 (@thebig3) July 11, 2021

They also feature something most teams don’t: impactful youth.  Guard Isaiah Briscoe is just 26 and should give coach Stephen Jackson (yes, that Stephen Jackson) a reliable option in his second season.

Still, we’ll go with the best player in BIG3 in the opener.

Pick: Triplets -5.5 (-115)

Power vs Tri-State Picks

Perhaps there’s nowhere else you can go from NBA first-round flop to first overall pick than the BIG3. Such is the case for Glen Rice Jr, who was nabbed as the first overall pick by Power.

With the first pick in the 2022 BIG3 Draft, @big3_power selects Glen Rice Jr!

Welcome to the BIG3. #BIG3Season5 pic.twitter.com/PufAA40tp0

— BIG3 (@thebig3) May 26, 2022

They’re hoping the 31-year-old still has some game left in him — he played 16 total games in his NBA career. Rice will be able to learn from one of the all-time BIG3 favorites in Cuttino Mobley.

It won’t be an easy debut, though. Power will face off against Tri-State, who finished tied for first in the regular season with a 6-2 mark and lost to eventual champion Trilogy in the playoffs.

Pick: Tri-State -3 (-115)

Bivouac vs 3’s Company Picks

One last pick, featuring two more new faces to the BIG3, but very familiar with hoopers. Bivouac is trying to bounce back from an 0-fer of a 2021 campaign (the only winless team last year), and their biggest addition is Gerald Green, who came out of retirement to play in the G-League last season, helping Grand Rapids to a title.

Will Gerald Green turn Bivouac into BIG3 title contenders? 🐜 pic.twitter.com/hP9n86Iewd

— BIG3 (@thebig3) May 21, 2022

The 35-year-old will be joined by 36-year-old Corey Brewer, who last played in the 2019-20 NBA season. He should fit right in with the type of defender head coach Gary Payton covets.

They’ll be facing off with 3’s Company, who will be debuting their own rookie in Michael Beasley. The 33-year-old was the second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Beasley will also have former Miami Heat teammate Mario Chalmers in the fold, and wing Brandon Rush. Look for Biv to find their way into the win column.

Pick: Bivouac +3 (-115)

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